Prime Minister Andy Burnham to meet with Edinburgh swimmer Archie Goodburn after emotional brain cancer plea
The 25-year-old pleaded for more brain cancer funding and clinical trials to “give us a chance to fight for our lives”
The Prime Minister will meet with Edinburgh swimmer Archie Goodburn after he made an emotional plea on live TV for more funding for brain cancer research.
The swimmer, who recently competed at the Commonwealth Games two years after being diagnosed with an incurable brain tumour, broke down in tears as he made the appeal while being interviewed on BBC Breakfast.
Speaking directly to the camera, the 25-year- old said: "Andy Burnham, if you believe and want to make a change and a difference to the future of our country and our young population, please listen to us.
"Please establish a national brain cancer lead and give us a chance to fight for our lives because honestly the things that patients are going through out there are unbelievable and so unjust.
"There are clinical trials around the world, in the US, in Australia, in China, that could change lives. And we are not seeing them in the UK and it is unfair and unjust.
"So please invest and make the difference. I'm on my knees begging for, not just my own life, but for those of my best friends and those that are affected and the families around the country.
"This has to change. It's been going for too long and the suffering is unbearable."
He said the Rare Cancers Bill, which was introduced by Edinburgh MP Dr Scott Arthur and became part of UK law in March, was a “step in the right direction but not enough”.
The legislation requires the UK Government to accelerate research into rare cancers and fund more cutting-edge science to support faster diagnosis and more treatment breakthroughs.
“The rare cancers bill covers 14 different types of rare cancers,” said Mr Goodburn. “Brain cancer is one of these in terms of incidents of diagnosis, but it's not the same in terms of the number of deaths it causes.
"Brain cancer is rare but it's extremely deadly. This frustrates me immensely.
"The rare cancers bill establishes two new positions, a clinical lead and a research lead. These two roles are part-time across 14 different types of cancers and they accumulate to 36 days a year.
"There's two roles to cover 14 different types of cancer and change the landscape of treatment.
"I do not see how 36 days a year is going to make that change for 14 different types of cancers, let alone the most deadly type of cancer."
Following the interview, Burnham has invited the 25-year-old to a personal meeting to discuss the issue.
Replying to a clip of the video on TikTok, the Prime Minister said: "Archie, thank you for this. I know how hard it must have been.
"What you're doing for other people while you're going through all this yourself shows the best of us.
"I'd really like to meet you and hear from you directly and I've asked my team to get in touch."
Mr Goodburn was diagnosed with three inoperable brain tumours in 2024 at the age of 22, shortly after he had competed in in the Olympic trials.
Despite his diagnosis he has continued to compete to the highest of level while becoming one of Scotland's leading voices campaigning for improved brain cancer research, funding and treatment.
He finished seventh in the Commonwealth Games men’s 50m breaststroke final in Glasgow last week.
Speaking after the race, Goodburn reflected on his achievement, he said: “ My dream was to make the final, but, you know... outside the pool I dream of a future where brain cancer isn’t the biggest killer of those under 40.
“That the UK government establish a national brain cancer lead, to make that change and I'd much prefer that change was made, and that dream is completed than any of my personal goals in the pool.”
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